Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2025-63
| Common name: |
Tennessee Warbler |
| Scientific name: | Leiothlypis peregrina |
| Date: | 08/15/25 |
| Time: | 9;40 AM |
| Length of time observed: | 5 mins |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | first winter |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | River Lane |
| County: | Utah County |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | variable - closest being 15 ft. |
| Optical equipment: | Vortex 10x42's, Nikon Camera with 500m lense, |
| Weather: | morning, clear skies, no wind. |
| Light Conditions: | decent lighting. bird moved out of shade and into shade |
| Description: Size of bird: | medium size warbler |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | warbler with long bill |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | white under, yellow chest throat and head, green yellow back. |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | long for a warbler. |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
foraging with an OCWA for comparison. bird immediately caught my eye as being pretty bright yellow. brief looks here and there revealed clear white UTC's and a dark eyeline. no streaking in the chest or sides visible. and importantly a short tail seen well. the bird was overall pieced together seeing parts of it here and there as it was rather deep in a cottonwood at times, and as a result we weren't able to get a photo. but the lighting was good enough to see plenty of color and details, with the bird being rather close. lost it when a few Nashville and orange crowned warblers joined it and carried on to other trees. |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | silent |
| Behavior: | foraging with a mixed flock of warblers |
| Habitat: | cottonwood and willows (i think) of river lane on the north side of the road. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
OCWA; Too lemon yellow, lacking streaking, white UTC's, short tail, and a dark eyeline all point away from OCWA Bay-Poll warbler: lack of prominent white wing bars rule out these warblers effectively. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
hundreds of OCWA, hard to estimate. |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | Notes taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | McKay Olson |
| Observer's address: | |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Esther Sumner |
| Date prepared: | 11/13/25 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |